A New Master’s Degree Program Coming to SUU

SUU is the first institution in Utah to introduce the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) to their curriculum.

The MIS degree allows a student to build their own master degree by choosing the courses and disciplines that align with their professional career goals.

This degree combines three different areas of study made up of nine credits with a three credit capstone project.

“A student can build their own master degree,” said MIS Program Director Cynthia Kimball Davis, director of graduate programs and the graduate online school. “It brings different academic disciplines together. It’s a very academically rigorous course. And not everyone will meet the criteria. It’s a selective degree for a selective amount of students.”

In order to be accepted into the program students must have a 3.0 GPA and provide the university with a resume, transcripts and a statement of purpose.

“A statement of purpose is like a road map for a student’s master’s degree,” Aimee Kaiser, MIS Admissions Advisor, said. “You get your roadmap ready before you start your journey. It points you in the direction to get you started.”

A student’s statement of purpose is used as a template to accomplish their capstone project at the end of the program, which will encompass all three disciplines.

“The students I have talked to who are interested in this degree are students who know exactly where they want to go and what they want to do with their degree,” Kaiser said.

There are currently six students who have turned in their applications and around 40 students interested in the program.

“We expect more to come in during the next couple of weeks,” Kaiser said.

The graduate department is currently accepting applications for Spring 2018.